Device for connecting a beverage container to a fitting

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device connecting a container for receiving liquid beverages, such as beer, soft drinks and wine, to a fitting ( 3 ), wherein the container is designed as a bladder ( 1 ) which, at the top, at the head end thereof, is designed with a collar-like connecting means ( 14 ) which can be connected to the fitting ( 3 ) for the purpose of bottling the liquid, the fitting having closable openings ( 5, 6 ) for both a pressurized gas and for the liquid. The aim is to create a connection option between the container/the bladder ( 1 ) and the fitting ( 3 ) that is secure and easily replaceable. For this purpose, the invention provides an adapter ring ( 15; 115 ) which connects the connecting means ( 14 ) of the bladder ( 1 ) to a detent groove ( 8 ) in the fitting ( 3 ) from the outside and which engages in the detent groove ( 8 ) with a detent projection ( 16; 116 ).

The invention relates to an apparatus for connecting a container for holding a liquid beverage, such as beer, soft drinks and wine, with a fitting, where the container has a bladder that is formed at its top or head end with a sleeve-like connector that can be connected to the fitting serving for filling the liquids and having closeable openings for a compressed gas on the one hand and the liquid on the other hand.

Containers or bladders formed in this manner, in particular made from PET, are often provided internally with a bag or pouch for holding the beverage. This unfolds during filling and prevents air from entering the beverage or prevents carbon dioxide from escaping.

The containers or bladders are preferably used in beverage dispensing apparatuses for CO₂ compressed gas-operated dispensing of beverages, such as beer, soft drinks and wine, cooled to drinking temperature. Upon actuation of a tap lever, the beverage is forced out through the beverage outlet via a riser tube projecting from above into the interior of the bladder or the inner bag.

A beverage-dispensing apparatus of this type is known, for example, from EP 1 293 476 [U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,375]. The beverage can be removed or the bladder can be filled via a tap head that can be placed on a safety fitting that has a beverage valve and a gas valve, arranged on the container or the bladder at the top, or a connection piece that can be mounted thereon.

DE 10 2005 025 561 [U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,003] describes a closure for a beverage container that is made for the removal of liquid and that has a closure body with a cylindrical inner part in which a valve actuating member is supported. The closure body has a cylindrical outer sleeve with an internal thread with which the outer sleeve can be screwed onto an external thread of the container connection.

Furthermore, it is known in the prior art that the safety fitting accommodating the tap head is compressed with the container wall during installation into the container top part, so that a connection is produced that cannot be detached again. This so-called non-reusable thread is discarded together with the pressed-on safety fitting after removal of the beverage.

The object of the invention is now to create a safe and easily replaceable connection option with the fitting or safety fitting for a generic beverage container.

This object is attained according to the invention with an adapter ring connecting the connector of the bladder with a detent groove of the fitting from outside, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention directly formed on the connector and thus representing an integrated, permanently attached component of the bladder. The fitting needs only to be pushed into place until a detent projection of the adapter ring engages in the detent groove of the fitting. An adapter ring of this type makes it possible to also use a conventional single-use keg fitting for a PET bladder.

Another embodiment of the invention is a one-piece adapter ring that can be locked with the detent groove of the fitting and the sleeve-like connector of the bladder. The separate adapter ring made of plastic is pushed from below onto the fitting before the connection of the fitting with the bladder. After the fitting, with the interposition of a radial seal, has been placed onto a smooth-surfaced projection surrounding inside the sleeve-like connector of the bladder, the adapter ring on the fitting is pushed downward in the vertical direction until, on the one hand, its upper connection end locks with the circumferential groove of the fitting and, on the other hand, its lower connection end locks with the sleeve-like or annularly projecting connector of the bladder.

To lock the adapter ring with the fitting and the bladder according to the invention in place, the upper and lower connection end of the adapter ring are formed with detent projections, the upper detent projection engaging in the detent groove of the fitting and the lower detent projection engaging under the sleeve-like connector. The upper as well as the lower detent projection are formed in one piece and respectively surround the outer surface of the upper and the lower connection end of the adapter ring. The upper connection end adapted to the outer diameter of the fitting has a smaller diameter than the lower connection end adapted to the outer diameter of the sleeve-like connector, so that an inclined surface tapering upward forms the transition of the adapter between the upper and the lower connection end. After the locking of the fitting with the bladder, this inclined surface or step of the adapter ring bears flatly with prestress against an outer surface of the sleeve-like connector formed in a complementary manner thereto in a lug-shaped manner, for stabilization of the adapter ring.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection ends are connected to the center part of the adapter ring in a radially resilient manner. The connection ends are thereby expanded outward via the upper and lower detent projections lying inside during the connection operation on the one hand on the fitting and on the other hand on the inclined outer contour of the sleeve-like connector. As soon as the upper detent projection is located in congruent position with the circumferential groove in the fitting and the lower detent projection has passed the sleeve-like connector, the connection ends spring or snap back into their starting position, with the upper detent projection locking safely and firmly into the groove of the fitting and the lower detent projection engaging under the sleeve-like connector in a positive manner.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the upper detent projection is formed with an insert bevel tapering downward. This centers the fitting and makes it easier to push onto the adapter ring. In addition, the detent projection formed in this manner slides with an only small mounting surface over the fitting, and insertion of the upper detent projection into the groove of the fitting is aided.

In contrast, the lower detent projection according to the invention is formed with a contact bevel tapering upward. This renders possible a centered, easy sliding down on the sawtooth-section outer surface of the collar when the lower connection end of the adapter ring fitted placed onto the sleeve-like connector of the bladder. Furthermore, the contact bevel aids radial spreading of the lower connection end when it passes the sleeve-like connector.

Further features and details of the invention are seen in the claims and the following description of illustrated embodiments of the invention shown in the figures. Therein:

FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal section of a fitting connected or locked with a sleeve-like connector of a container bladder by an adapter ring pushed on from outside; and

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal section as above, where the adapter ring is shaped directly on the sleeve-like connector as an integrated component of the container bladder.

FIG. 1 shows a bladder 1 made of a thermoplastic material, in particular PET, as a container for holding or compressed gas dispensing of a beverage, such as beer, soft drinks and wine.

The bladder 1 is formed at its top with a neck 2 that accommodates a safety fitting 3 that has projecting into the bladder 1 a fitting or riser tube 4 through which the liquid can rise. Furthermore, the safety fitting 3 is provided with closeable openings 5 and 6 for a compressed gas on the one hand and the liquid on the other hand. A connecting piece for filling with a beverage in a brewery, for instance, or a tap head for tapping by the user can be connected to the openings 5 and 6.

The safety fitting 3 has an annular outer housing 7 that is provided with a circumferential detent groove 8. The outer housing 7 merges downward into a double-walled stationary support part 9 having an annular inner wall 10 a and an annular outer wall 10 b forming flow passages, the annular inner wall 10 a also acting as a guide on movement of the fitting tube 4 in the axial direction in the illustrated embodiment.

The annular outer wall 10 b has a radially outwardly projecting ridge 11 that on the one hand carries the annular outer housing 7 and on the other hand bears via a seal 12 on an annular shoulder 13 formed inside the neck 2.

On its outer surface, the neck 2 is provided with a sleeve-like connector formation 14 that serves as a counter-latch for a connector. The connector is a one-piece adapter ring 15 that is provided inside its upper end 15 a and inside its lower end 15 b with respective detent projections 16 and 17, the upper detent projection 16 engaging in the detent groove 8 of the fitting and the lower detent projection 17 engaging under the sleeve-like formation 14.

For the non-positive and positive connection of the fitting 3 with the bladder 1, the adapter ring 15, which is made of a resilient material, is pushed from below over the annual outer housing 7 of the fitting 3, aided by an installation bevel 20 of the upper connection end 15 a, so that the upper circumferential detent projection 16 is spread radially outward and thus is prestressed. Subsequently, the fitting 3 with the support part 9 is placed onto the neck 2, and the adapter ring 15 is pressed downward. This causes the lower detent projection 17 to slide over the sawtooth-shaped outer surface 18 of the formation 14 so that it also is expanded radially and prestressed. A contact bevel 19 formed on the detent projection 17 and tapering upward facilitates this joining and radial spreading.

As soon as the upper detent projection 16 is engaged in the detent groove 8 and the detent projection 17 has completely passed the sleeve-like connector formation 14, the upper detent projection 16, supported by the insert bevel 20, locks with the detent groove 8, and the lower detent projection 17 engages under the sleeve-like connector formation 14 in a positive manner.

FIG. 2 shows a variant in which the adapter ring 115 is directly formed on the neck 2 or on its upper connector formation 14. Since locking with the bladder 2 or connector formation 14 is omitted, the resiliently yielding adapter ring 115 here has only one circumferential detent projection 116 provided with an insert bevel 20 that, during pushing on of the fitting 3, engages in the detent groove 8 thereof and connects the bladder 1 securely with the fitting 3. Otherwise, the components and the mode of operation of this embodiment are identical to those of FIG. 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 Bladder (container) -   2 Bladder/container neck -   3 Fitting (safety fitting) -   4 Fitting tube/riser tube -   5 (Flow) opening -   6 (Flow) opening -   7 Outer housing -   8 Detent groove (circumferential groove) -   9 Support part -   10 a Annular inner wall -   10 b Annular outer wall -   11 Ridge -   12 Seal -   13 Annular surface -   14 Connector (of the bladder) -   15 Adapter ring -   15 a Upper connection end -   15 b Lower connection end -   16 Detent projection (upper) -   17 Detent projection (lower) -   18 Outer surface -   19 Contact bevel -   20 Insert bevel -   115 Adapter ring -   116 Detent projection 

1. An apparatus for connecting a container for holding a liquid beverage with a fitting, where the container is a bladder formed at its top or head end with a sleeve-like connector that can be connected to the fitting serving for filling the container with the beverage and having closeable openings for a compressed gas on the one hand and the liquid on the other hand, characterized by an adapter ring connecting the connector of the bladder with a detent groove of the fitting from outside, which engages with a detent projection into the detent groove.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adapter ring is shaped on the connector in an upwardly projecting manner.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adapter ring is one piece and can be locked with the detent groove of the fitting and the sleeve-like connector of the bladder.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the upper and lower connection end of the adapter ring are formed with detent projections, the upper detent projection of which engages in the detent groove of the fitting and the lower detent projection engages under the sleeve-like connector of the bladder.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connection ends are formed in a radially resilient manner.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the upper detent projection is formed with an insert bevel tapering downward.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lower detent projection is formed with a contact bevel tapering upward.
 8. In combination: a bladder container having a tubular filler neck centered on an axis; a fitting connectable to the filler neck and having openings for feeding compressed gas and a beverage into the container and formed with a radially outwardly open and annular detent groove; and an adapter ring secured to the neck and formed with a radially inwardly projecting and annular detent ridge fittable into the groove to lock the fitting to the filler neck.
 9. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein the ring is elastically deformable.
 10. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein the ring is unitarily formed with the neck.
 11. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein the neck is formed with an outwardly projecting ridge and the ring has an inwardly projecting ridge formation fittable with the ridge of the neck to hold the ring on the neck.
 12. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein the ridge of the neck is of sawtooth section such that the ridge formation of the ring can be slid over it in one direction but is locked against movement off the ridge of the neck in the opposite direction.
 13. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein a lower end of the ring is formed below the ridge formation with a downwardly flaring bevel.
 14. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein an upper end of the ring is formed with an upwardly flaring bevel. 